LAST SUMMER ON EARTH TOUR 2022 FEATURING BARENAKED LADIES
With Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket
Mohegan Sun Casino Arena
Uncasville, Connecticut
July 9, 2022
Photos & Review by Dan Wenc
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – A night of music and fun were on tap courtesy of Mohegan Sun Casino celebrating the Last Summer on Earth Tour. Well hopefully it won’t be the last summer, but after 2020, one can never be too sure. This was a tour that had been rescheduled multiple times since 2020 because of the Covid pandemic. The night was finally here and the sold out arena crowd was ready to celebrate. It was a three course lineup of some of the biggest names in 90s alt-rock, three bands that altered the sounds of the radio in a post-grunge rock era, ushering a new sound at the turn of the 20th century.
The songs that were to be performed this night would bring me back to a time in my life that was somewhere around midway though high school and into a new world of growing up along with a changing style of music of the times through the latter part of the 90s. Personally, I refer to this era of music and the sounds of these bands as “college rock.” Of course we may have all heard these songs at other times of our life depending where you were at. Surmise to say, these bands and their music would surely be a part of our life’s soundtrack regardless of where we were.
I was born in the 70s, raised in the 80s and grew up in the 90s. A lot like these three bands who were born in the 80s but forged their musical stardom in the 90s. These bands would transform the sound of rock that would make up the new decade, coming down from the rock transformation from the grunge era. These bands would rebound rock straight off the grunge era, formulating a new sound for modern rock of the late 90s
First up was Toad the Wet Sprocket, who made the stage promptly at 7pm for a 45 minute set with “Come Down,” “Good Intentions” and “California Wasted.” Toad the Wet Sprocket is Glen Phillips on guitar/lead vocals, Todd Nichols on guitar, Dean Dinning on bass and Josh Daubin on drums. This was a band that I was excited to see perform live, this would be my first time seeing Toad the Wet Sprocket, being most excited to hear to songs that raised them to the top of the charts with “All I Want” and “Walk in the Ocean” from the 1991 Fear album.
Toad the Wet Sprocket played an 11 song set. “Fall Down” brought in a raised energy from the mellow vibe of the first part of the set, ringing in the loudest cheers of the night. Their set closed out with “Walk on the Ocean.”
TOAD THE WET SPROCKET photo gallery
Moving along with the musical momentum from the class of 1990 something were the Gin Blossoms. Starting off thier set with “Follow You Down,” “Long Time Gone” and “Allison Road.” Robin Wilson led the festivities as front man, entertaining with the sounds of his unique vocal sound, along with harmonica and guitar. The rest of the band is comprised of Bill Leen on bass, Jesse Valenzuela on guitar, Scotty Johnson on guitar and Scott Hessel on drums. Gin Blossoms sounded great and put on a fun nine song set in celebration of 30 Years of Misery.
Wilson took a moment in between songs to bring attention to the guitar that was being auctioned off that evening in support of the Love Hope Strength Foundation (https://lovehopestrength.org). With a donation, one lucky winner would walk away from this show with a night of memorable music performances and a signed guitar from all the bands.
GIN BLOSSOMS photo gallery
Barenaked Ladies, the Canadian rockers who were also born in the 80s and raised their fame in the 90s took to the stage in front of sold out crowd with a large screen at the back of the stage, starting with some beautiful graphics of Northern Lights on screen before show, the remainder of the show the screens would provide visual entertainment to coincide with the music.
Barenaked Ladies brought something new to the 90s with their unique sound and unconventional lyrical subject matter, a band that provided the music on the cusp of the new millennium. Barenaked Ladies were a constant on FM radio during that time in that time. The 1998 Stunt album became their biggest mainstream success, with the single “One Week,” This night they brought that lineup of hits to Connecticut.
Barenaked Ladies is comprised of Ed Roberton on vocals/guitar, Jim Creeggan on bass/vocals, Kevin Hearn on keyboards/guitar/vocals and Tyler Stewart on drums.
Barenaked Ladies put on a twenty-song set, opening with “New Disaster,” “It’s All Been Done,” and “Pinch Me.” The majority of the night included selections from their 2021 Detour de Force album. Of course, the hits such as “Brian Wilson”, the Big Bang Theory TV show theme song, “One Week,” “If I Had $1,000,000,” along a freestyle medley of music made up the rest of the set. The night concluded with a cover version of the iconic Traveling Wilburys cover of “Handle With Care.”
BARENAKED LADIES photo gallery
For more news, info and tour dates on these bands:
Barenaked Ladies https://www.barenakedladies.com
Gin Blossoms https://www.ginblossoms.net
Toad the Wet Sprocket https://toadthewetsprocket.com
For more info on upcoming concerts and events at Mohegan Sun Casino, visit: https://mohegansun.com/events-and-promotions/schedule-of-events.html